Vortex controlled fluid amplifier



Feb. 8, 1966 I 3,233,621

VORTEX CONTROLLED FLUID AMPLIFIER Filed Jan. 31, 1965 INVENTORfiefi/vc/s M Mq/v/o/v ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,233,621 VORTEXCONTROLLED FLUID AMPLIFIER Francis M. Manion, Rockville, Md., assignorto liowles Engineering Corporation, Silver Spring, Md, :1 corporation ofMaryland Filed Jan. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 255,328 Claims. (Cl. 137-815) Thepresent invention relates generally to fluid amplifier systems having nomoving solid parts in which amplification is a function of the magnitudeof deflection of a fluid power stream by vortical fluid flow. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a fluid amplifier utilizing theeffects of interaction between a power stream and a fluid vortex in aninteraction region such that a relatively small amount of energyavailable in the fluid vortex controls a considerably larger quantity ofenergy available in the power stream.

A typical fluid amplifier constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention utilizes the effect of vortical fluid flow tocontrol the pressure distribution within a main power stream and thelocal pressure distribution in the interaction region so as to controlthe power stream flow path. The interaction region is defined in part bytwo sidewalls disposed on opposite sides of the stream. The sidewallsserve as resisting solid boundaries to restrict motion and flow of fluidparticles within the interaction region and permit the aforesaidpressure distributions to be established and maintained about thestream. Further in consequence of interaction between the vortex andpower streams and the sidewalls, fluid amplifiers of the presentinvention are capable of performing amplification and switchingfunctions somewhat analogous to those now conventionally performed onlyby electronic circuits or to a more limited extent by fluid systemswhich incorporate moving solid parts.

With respect to the beam deflection types of fluid amplifiers that maybe employed in achieving the objects of this invention, a typical beamdeflection amplifier includes an interaction chamber defined for exampleby an end wall and two outwardly diverging side walls hereinafterreferred to as the left and right side Walls. A nozzle having an orificein the end wall is provided to issue a well defined stream, hereinafterreferred to as a power stream, into the interaction chamber. A V-shapedflow divider has one end thereof disposed a predetermined dis tance fromthe end wall, the sides of the divider being generally parallel to theleft and right side walls of the chamber. The regions between the sidesof the divider and the left and right side walls define left and rightoutput passages, respectively.

Control signals in the form of fluid vortices generated by a rotatingcolum of fluid, are applied to the interaction chamber, the axis ofrotation of the vortex stream being generally perpendicular to the planeof deflection of the power stream. The spinning fluid of the vortexstream intercepts the power stream and the momentum exchange between thetwo streams causes the power stream to be deflected into one passage orthe other depending upon the rotational direction of the vortex. Thesmaller energy of the vortex stream controls the larger energy of thepower stream so that amplification is achieved.

In accordance with this invention, the following vortex controlled beamdeflection type of fluid amplifier units can be constructed by thoseskilled in the art:

.(I) Amplifiers in which the vortex and the power streams interact insuch a way that the vortex deflects the power stream with little or nointeraction between the side walls of the chamber in which the streamsinteract and the streams themselves. In such an amplifier,

the detailed contours of the side walls of the chamber in which thestreams interact is of secondary importance to the interacting forcesbetween the streams. Although the side walls can be used to containfluid in the interacting chamber, and thus make it possible to have thestreams interact in a region at some desired pressure, the side wallsare placed in such a position that they are somewhat remote from thehigh velocity portions of the interacting streams. Under theseconditions the flow pattern within the interaction chamber dependsprimarily upon the relative sizes, speeds and the directions of thevortex and the power streams with respect to each other and with respectto the interaction chamber, upon the density, viscosity, compressibilityand other properties of the fluids involved, and upon the amount ofinteraction occurring between the two types of streams.

(II) The second broad class of fluid amplifier units that may beconstructed are units wherein two or more streams interact in such a Waythat the resulting flow patterns and pressure distribution into thepassages are greatly affected by the details of the design of the sideWalls. The effect of side wall configuration on the flow patterns andpressure distribution which can be achieved depends upon: the relationbetween width of the power nozzle supplying the fluid stream to thechamber and the distance between opposite side walls of the interactionchamber adjacent the orifice of the power nozzle; the angle that theside walls make with respect to the center line of the power stream; thelength of the side Wall (when a flow divider is not used); the spacingbetween the power nozzle and the flow divider (if used); and thedensity, viscosity, compressibility and uniformity of the fluid flowingin the chamber. It also depends to some extent on the thickness of thefluid element. In general, fluid devices utilizing boundary layereffects, i.e., effects which depend upon details of side wallsconfiguration can be further subdivided into three categories:

(a) Boundary layer elements in which there is no appreciable lock oneffect. Such a unit has a power gain which can be increased by boundarylayer effects, but these effects are not dominant;

(b) Boundary layer units in which lock on effects are dominant and aresuflicient to maintain the power stream in a particular flow patternthrough the action of the pressure distribution arising from boundarylayer effects, and requiring no streams other than the power stream tomaintain that flow pattern once established, but having a flow patternwhich can be changed to a new stable flow pattern by the fluid vortexflow, or by altering the pressures at one or more of the outputpassages;

(c) Boundary layer units in which the flow pattern can be maintainedthrough the action of the power stream alone which flow pattern can bemodified by the application of the vortex stream but which unitsmaintain certain parts of the power stream flow pattern, including lockon to the side wall, even though the pressure distribution at the outputpassages is modified.

The lock-on phenomena referred to hereinabove is due to a boundary layereffect existing between the stream and a side wall. Assume initiallythat the fluid stream is issuing from the power nozzle and is directedtoward the apex of the divider. The fluid issuing from the power nozzleorifice, in passing through the chamber, entrains fluid in the chamberand removes this fluid therefrom. If the power stream is slightly closerto, for instance, the left wall than the right wall, it is moreeffective in removing the fluid in the region between the stream and theleft wall than it is in removing fluid between the stream and the rightwall. Therefore, the pressure in the left region between the left walland stream is lower Q? than the pressure in the right region of thechamber and a differential pressure is set up across the power streamtending to deflect it toward the left wall. As the power stream isdeflected further toward the left wall, it becomes even more efiicientin entraining air in the left region and the pressure in this region isfurther reduced. This action is self-reinforcing and results in thepower stream becoming deflected toward the left wall and entering theleft outlet passage. The stream intersects the left wall at apredetermined distance downstream from the outlet of the main orifice;this point being normally referred to as the point of attachment. Thisphenomena is referred to as boundary layer lock on. The operation ofthis type of apparatus may be completely symmetrical in that if thestream had initially been slightly deflected toward the right wallrather than the left wall, boundary layer lock on would have occurredagainst the right wall.

Continuing the discussion of the three categories of the second class ofbeam type fluid amplifying units, the boundary layer unit type (a) aboveutilizes a combination of'beundary layer effects and momentuminteraction between streams in order to achieve a power gain which isenhanced by the boundary layer effects, but since boundary layer effectsin type (a) are not dominant, the power stream does not of itself remainlocked to the side wall. The power stream remains diverted from itsinitial direction only if there is a continuing vortex flow thatinteracts to maintain the deflection of the power stream. Boundary layerunit type (b) has a suflicient lock on effect that the power streamcontinues to flow entirely out one passage in the absence of any fluidvortex signal. A boundary layer unit type (b) can be made as a bistable,tristable, or multistable unit, but it can be dislodged from one of itsstable states by vortex fluid flow or by the blocking of the outputpassage connected to the aperture receiving the major portion of thepower stream. Boundary layer units type (c) have a very strong tendencyto maintain the direction of flow of the power stream through theinteraction chamber, this tendency being so strong that completeblockage of the passage connected to one of the output apertures towardwhich the power stream is directed does not dislodge the power streamfrom its locked on condition. Boundary layer units type (c) aretherefore memory units which while sensitive to interacting vorticalfluid flow, are virtually insensitive to positive loading conditions attheir output passages.

To give a specific example: boundary layer effects have been found toinfluence the performance of a fluid amplifier element if it is made asfollows: the width of the interacting chamber at the point where thepower nozzle issues its stream is two to three times the Width, W, ofthe power nozzle, i.e., the chamber width at this point is 3W; and theside walls of the chamber diverge so that each side wall makes a 12angle with the center line of the power stream. In a unit made in thisway, a spacing between the power nozzle and the center divider equal totwo power nozzle widths 2W will exhibit increased gain because ofboundary layer effects, but the stream will not remain locked on eitherside. This unit with a divider spacing of 2W is a boundary layer unittype (a) which if the spacing is less than 2W an amplifier of the firstclass, i.e., a proportional amplifier results. If the divider is spacedmore than three power nozzle widths, 3W, but less than eight powernozzle widths, 8W, from the power nozzle, then the power stream remainslocked onto one of the chamber walls and is a boundary layer type (b).Complete blockage of the output passage of such a unit causes the powerstream to take a new flow pattern.

A boundary layer unit having a divider which is spaced more than twelvepower nozzle widths 12W, from the powernozzle remains locked on to achamber wall even though there is complete blockage of the passageconnected to the aperture toward which the power stream is directed, andthus it is a boundary layer unit type (c). Another factor effecting thetype of operation achieved by these units is the pressure of the fluidapplied to the power nozzle relative to the width of the chamber. In theabove examples, the types of operation described are achieved if thepressure of the fluid is less than 60 p.s.i. If, however, the pressureexceeds p.s.i. the expansion of the fluid stream upon issuing from thepowernozzle is sufliciently great to cause the stream to contact bothside Walls of the chamber and lock on is prevented. Lock-on can beachieved at the higher pressures by increasing the widths of theinteraction chamber.

According to one embodiment of this invention, a rotating body of fluidwhich may be derived from a vortex amplifier or other suitable source issupplied to an interaction chamber of a beam deflection type of fluidamplifier for effecting amplified control of the power stream issuinginto that chamber. According to a second embodiment of the invention,the interaction chamber of the beam deflection amplifier may beconstructed as a vortex amplifier to provide amplification of therotating input signal concurrently with control of the fluid beamthereby. This arrangement provides a two-stage (cascaded) amplifier in asingle amplifier structure.

In order to fully understand the operation of the vortex controlledfluid amplifier of the present invention, it is necessary to understandthe basic operation of one type of conventional fluid vortex amplifierthat utilizes the flow of fluid, fluid characteristics, and fluid flowcharacteristics to amplify a fluid input signal and does not requiremoving parts other than the moving fluid itself. The vortex amplifiercan be properly regarded as an amplifier because the energy controlledis larger than the controlling energy.

Assume that a circular pan of liquid is provided with a small dischargeorifice at the bottom center. The height of liquid in the pan results ina hydrostatic head or pressure which tends to force the fluid out of thesmall centrally located discharge orifice. In the case of irrotationalflow the fluid will flow radially toward and through the orifice. For anincompressible fluid the flow velocity will be inversely related to theliquid radial location. If one considers a two-dimensional irrotationalflow condition, as for example, in the case of flow to a conventionalsink, the radical velocity V and the radial position r will be relatedas in Equation 1 constant If the fluid is compressible then the localfluid density p must be considered and Equation 1 becomes constantConsequently, when the fluid is discharging from the pan, as fluid movesfrom the rim toward the centrally located discharge orifice, itstangential velocity component V increases as the radial positiondecreases. Ideally, it one starts with a 10 diameter pan dischargingthrough a centrally located orifice of .01 diameter the tangentialvelocity component at the discharge orifice V would be one thousandtimes the tangential velocity component at the rim of the pan V Thus,the tangential velocity component is amplified.

While an open pan of liquid has been used to describe in elementaryfashion the operation of a vortex amplifier, this invention employs avortex chamber, wherein the fluid need not be liquid but can be a liquidor a gas or a mixture of fluid or combinations of fluids and wherein thesource of pressure causing fluid discharge is not derived fromgravitational eflects but is due to a flow or flows of fluid streamsinto the vortex chamber. One type of fluid vortex amplifier is disclosedin detail in a French Patent No. 1,318,907, issued January 14, 1963, byRomald E. Bowles.

As previously indicated, a vortex amplifier may be provided in theinteraction chamber of a beam deflection amplifier. Such a vortexamplifier converts the static pressure of the interaction chamber to adirected dynamic pressure, and in addition will amplify thecircumferential velocity component of the rotating fluid supplied to thechamber. A vortex amplifier may be provided by at least partiallyconfining the fluid to a circular path and by forming an orificecentrally of the circular path with a diameter less than the diameter ofthe path. The rotating fluid is supplied so that its axis of rotation issubstantially aligned with the axis defined by the orifice.

The position of the orifice and the vortex supplied to the interactionchamber with respect to the sidewalls and the power nozzle primarilydepends upon the type of output flow desired. Assuming that thesidewalls are substantially symmetrically disposed relative to the powernozzle, when the vortex is applied to the interaction chamhersymmetrically with respect to the sidewalls and in alignment with thepower stream, all, or substantially all of the flow will issue from onepassage or the other depending upon the direction of vortex rotation.When the vortex supplied to the chamber is closer to one sidewall thanthe other, asymmetrical flow from the passages will generally occur. Thelocation of the sidewalls of the interaction chamber additionallygoverns the location of the vortex with respect to the power nozzle andwith respect to the sidewalls. In class I and 11a type fluid amplifiersthe fluid vortex should be applied closer upstream to the orifice of thepower nozzle than in the case of the class III) and 11a type fluidamplifiers since in the latter type of amplifier the power stream shouldbe permitted to at least partially lock on to the sidewalls before beingdeflected by the vortex stream. In class I amplifiers the gain of theamplifier is enhanced by positioning the vortex further downstream ofthe power nozzle; however, the vortex should not be located so remotelyfrom the power nozzle that the power stream is completely diffused wheninteraction occurs.

Broadly, therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide avortex controlled fluid amplifier of the beam deflection type forcontrolling the output of the beam deflection type of fluid amplifier.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vortex amplifier inan interaction region of a beam deflection type fluid amplifier so thata power stream supplied to the beam deflection type of fluid amplifiercan be controlled by rotating fluid in the vortex amplifier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a partial vortex chamberwithin a stream interaction chamber so that a column of rotating fluidsupplied to the vortex chamber can effect amplified displacement of apower stream entering the interaction chamber.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device for readingout the sense of direction of a vortex fluid input signal suppliedthereto.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof,especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one possible embodiment of avortex controlled fluid amplifier coristructed in accordance with thisinvention; and

FIGURE 2 illustrates a device for reading out a vortex fluid inputsupplied thereto.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 for a more complete understanding of theinvention, an amplifier 10 is formed in a flat plate 11 by molding,milling, casting or by other techniques which will provide the necessarypassages and cavities therein. A vortex type of fluid amplifier 12formed in a flat plate 13 may be coupled to the amplifier It? so as toprovide vortical fluid flow thereto; this type of fluid amplifier beingdisclosed in detail in my co-pending application entitled DifferentialFluid Amplifier, Serial No. 226,856, filed September28, 1962. A thirdflat plate 14 covers the plate 13, the three plates being sealed one tothe other by machine screws, clamps or adhesives or by any othersuitable means. The connection between the plates should be fluid tightso that the fluid employed flows only in defined passages and cavitiesformed in each plate.

A pair of input tubes 15 and 16 have the. ends thereof connected in theplate 14 in alignment with orifices 15a and 16a formed in the plate 14,the tubes 15 and 16 receiving fluid input signals from a suitable sourceand supplying the fluid received to nozzles 17 and 18 formed in theamplifier 12 through the orifices 15a and 16a, respectively. Asdiscussed in my co-pending application Serial No. 226,856 the pressuredifferential between the input signals supplied to the nozzles 17 and 18are compared by interaction of the fluid streams issuing from theorifices of the nozzles 17 and 1s and the vortex created in a vortexchamber 19 by the interacting stream momenta, has a direction ofrotation and an angular velocity that is a function of the relativedifferential in pressure between the two interacting streams. Othertypes of vortex amplifiers may alternatively be used to supply thecontrol vortex stream, one such type of vortex amplifier being disclosedin the aforesaid French Patent No. 1,318,907 of Romald E. Bowles.

An axial column of rotating fluid issues from orifice 26 formed in thecenter of the chamber 19, the orifice 20 having a radius considerablysmaller than the radius of the chamber 19 so that the vortex egressingfrom the orifice 20 is velocity amplified as discussed hereinabove.

The column of fluid egressing from the orifice 20 impinges axiallyagainst a bottom wall 21 of an interaction chamber 22 formed in theamplifier 10. An orifice 23 is provided in the bottom wall 21 with thegeometrical axis in vertical alignment with the geometrical axis of theorifice 20 so that at least a portion of the axial component of flowfrom the orifice 20 can egress through the orifice 23 and from thechamber 21. The orifice 23 in addition to forming a vortex amplifier inthe chamber 22, provides an egress for fluid when the quantity of fluidsupplied to the chamber 22 by either or both fluid streams would floodor swamp the chamber 22 to an extent whereby proper interaction betweenthe power and vortex streams is impaired.

The circumferential velocity component of the rotating column of fluidegressing from the orifice 29 causes divergence of the rotating fluidwhen it is no longer confined by the orifice 20. The rotating fluidegressing from the orifice 2t} impinges against the bottom wall 21 withthe axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane of thebottom wall 21 and, as indicated by the arrows 24, issues from theorifice 23 so that a vortex is created having the same direction ofrotation as the column. The diameter of the orifice 23 should not begreater than the diameter of the vortex created at the plane of thebottom wall 21 otherwise the circumferential velocity component of thevortex which is needed to deflect the power stream also egresses fromthe chamber 22 along with the axial component. It will be evident thatthe greater the size of the orifice 23, the greater the quantity ofcircumferential flow that will egress from the orifice 23 Relationshipswhich should be considered in ascertaining the optimum size of theorifice 23 are the velocity of the power stream, the mass flow rate ofthe vortex entering the chamber 21 and the pressure developed bybackload ing of the output passages. The static pressure developed inthe chamber 22 by both types of fluid flow should be maintainedapproximately equal to the pressure in the passage in which fluid is notdirected to flow since if the pressure in that passage is substantiallylower than the chamber pressure, the fluid in the chamber 2-2 willdumpthereto. Thus, the size of the orifice 23 should be matched to thestatic pressures anticipated in the chamber 22, th y greater theanticipated static pressure, the greater the orifice diameter. Intypical instances, to achieve proper matching between the input andoutput flow, the radius of the orifice 23 has been made from slightlgreater than zero to slightly less than one times the radius of theorifiCe 26 The degree of amplification which can be effected between thetwo amplifiers iii and 12 increases as the ratio between the radii ofthe orifices 2t? and 23 increases. However, the greater the degree ofamplification the greater the possibility that the amplifier in will bedriven as a flip-flop by the amplified tangential velocity component ofthe vortex generated in the chamber 22 interacting with the powerstream, so that the fluid issues either from the output passage 32 ofthe output passage 33, rather than proportionally from these passages.

The interaction chamber 22 is formed by a pair of side walls 24 and 25,an end wall 26 and the arcuate tip 27 of a flow splitter 28. An orifice2 formed in the end wall 26 constricts fluid issuing from a power nozzle30. A tube 31 is connected to the plate Iii for supplying a fluid streamto a circular passage Eda that communicates with the nozzle 3t? so thata power stream issues from the orifice 29 into one end of theinteraction chamber 22.

Located downstream of the chamber and defined by the sidewalls 2d and.25, extended, and by the sides of the flow splitter 28 are outputpassages 32 and 33, respectively. As illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, the amplifier 10 is symmetrical with respect to a center lineCL taken through the centers of the orifices 23 and 29, the chamber 21,and the flow divider 28, however, it should be understood that the unitit may also be asymmetrical, depending upon the flow output patterndesired for a given flow input. In this particular embodiment, thearcuate end 27 of the splitter 28 has a radius of curvature at thecenter of which the center of the orifice 23 is located. The arcuate end27 defines a peripheral Wall which serves to limit radial expansion ofthe vortex 24 created within the interaction chamber 22, the arcuate end27 and the bottom wall 21 thereby cooperating to form at least a partialvortex chamber within the chamber 22. The bottom wall 22, the orifice23, the end 27 of the splitter 28, the sidewalls 24 and form at least apartial vortex amplifier, in the chamber 22 which converts the staticpressure in the chamber 22 to directed dynamic pressure and amplifiesthe circumferential velocity component of the rotating fluid supplied tothe chamber 22.

With regard to the interaction which occurs between the vortex createdin the chamber 22 and the power stream, the vortical flow in the chamber22 assumes a generally flat cylindrical flow pattern, the ends of thecylindrical pattern being defined by the bottom wall 21 and the bottomplanar surface of the plate 13 when the amplifiers are properly stackedtogether. Thus, the cylindrical pattern of flow is shaped essentially asa short column of rotating fluid. The outer diameter of the cylindricalflow pattern is ordinarily slightly larger than the diameter of theorifice 2t) and therefore larger than the diameter of the orifice 25.The inner diameter of the flow pattern is substantially equal to thediameter of the orifice 2.3. The velocity of the flow pattern increasesfor reasons discussed hereinabove as the radius decreases and thereforethe circumferential velocity and dynamic energy it; of the vortexaccordingly increases towards the center of the rotating column.

The constricted power stream issuing from the orifice 29 ordinarilypossesses suflicient integrity to penetrate the peripheral portion ofthe rotating column and ultimately interacts with fluid intermediate theouter and inner diameters of the column. The resultant interaction whichoccurs between the amplified circumferential component of the vorticalflow and the power stream produces a momentum interchange whichdisplaces the power stream, this displacement being aided by thepressure diflerential developed in the chamber as a result of vortexamplification.

Referring now to the interaction chamber 22, the arrows illustrate thedisplacement of a power stream by a clockwise rotating vortex in thechamber. The pressure developed bctwen the power stream and the vortexin the left side of the chamber 22 tends to drive the power streamtowards the sidewall 25 while simultaneously reducing the pressuredifferential between power stream and sidewall 24 of the interactionchamber 22. The effect of the pressure differentials so created in thepower stream combine to drive the power stream into the desired outputpassage. Since the energy of the power stream is generally considerablygreater than the energy of the vortex and since the vortex controlspower stream displacement, a gain is realized by the displacement of thelarger energized power stream. A further gain is realized in theamplification of the tangential velocity component of vortical flowsupplied to the partial vortex chamber 22 from a source of rotatingfluid flow.

As discussed hereinabove, the position of the sidewalls 24 and 25 withrespect to the chamber 21 and the distance between the edges of theorifice 32 and the adjacent sidewalls 25 and 26, governs to a greatextent the operation of any fluid amplifier of the beam deflection typesuch as the amplifier 10. 1f the walls 24 and 25 are set back remotefrom the orifice 2-9 as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1,little if any boundary layer effects :are developed between the streamand the wall against which it is flowing and consequently the actionwhich occurs between the fluid stream and the vortex 24 created in thevortex chamber 12 is one of essentially pure power stream deflection.

In class II type amplifiers, as for example the amplifier 10, whereinthe walls 23 and 24 are positioned sufliciently close to the orifice 29so that boundary layer lock on effects are present between the streamsthe vortical fluid flow created in the vortex chamber 22 must entrainenough fluid from one side of the power stream so that the other side ofthe power stream is pulled away from the wall to which it is attached bythe action of the vortex. As the power stream is pulled further from thewall the boundary layer effect is correspondingly reduced; more powerstream fluid becoming entrained in the vortex stream until ultimatelythe boundary layer effects are nullified and the entire power stream isdeflected by the pressure produced by momentum interaction with thevortex into an opposite output passage.

It will be evident that the passage into which the fluid stream isdeflected is primarily governed by the direction of the fluid vortexcreated within the interaction chamber 22. In the case of thehereinabove described class 2 type amplifiers a bistable action iseffected; that is, the fluid either issues from one passage 32 or theother passage 33 depending upon the rotation of the fluid stream withinthe interaction chamber 22. Differential fluid output signals can beobtained by employing class 1 type amplifiers and creating thedeflecting vortex a suflicient distance downstream of the orifice 29 sothat the eflect of the vortex on the power stream is not great enough tocause complete deflection of the power stream into one of the passages.In class 21) type amplifier wherein the lock on effect is dominant, thepower of the vortex must attain a threshold of at least a predeterminedmagnitude before the fluid 9 stream will be pulled off the wall ontowhich it has become attached and switch from one output passage to theother.

Other modifications of the amplifier It can also be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention.For instance, by positioning one side wall, say side wall 215, in closerproximity to the power stream than the other, say sidewall 24, the powerstream may be made to normally look on to the one sidewall and issuefrom the passage 33 associated with that sidewall. The vortex could beapplied with the axis of rotation thereof perpendicular to sidewall 21at the entrance of the passage 33 so that only vortical flow of thevortex in one direction, clockwise in this particular example, wouldcause deflection of the power stream into the opposite passage 32.

While it is ordinarily a relatively easy matter to form the orifice 23in the chamber 22, in instances where the possibility of flooding thechamber 22 is sufliciently remote and when vortex amplification iseither not requisite or desired, the orifice 23 may be eliminated. Thepower stream issuing from the power nozzle 31 can be displaced merely byvortical flow, which is not velocity amplified, rotating generallyperpendicularly to the direction of power stream movement and suppliedto the chamber 22 so as to interact with the power stream and effectdisplacement thereof by means of momentum interchange into the outputpassages 32 and 33. In such a case, the system relies wholly upon theenergy of the rotating fluid as supplied to the interaction chamber toproduce deflection of the beam.

With reference now to FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawings, there isshown a unit for reading out a fluid vortex type of input signal, orstated in another way, the unit 40 converts bi-directional vortical flowinto bidirectional linear flow. For that purpose the unit 40 can becoupled to a vortex amplifier, such as the amplifier 12, with the centerof the vortex formed therein and the orifice 19 in axial alignment, sothat the chamber 41 receives a vertical column of vortical flow from theoutlet orifice 19 of the amplifier 12. A port 42 is formed in one sideof the peripheral wall forming the chamber 41 and a flow splitter 43 ispositioned downstream of the port 42, the sides of the splitter 43defining the sidewalls of outlet passages 44 and 45, respectively. Anorifice 46 is provided centrally in the chamber 41 so that a portion ofthe axial component of flow from the vortex amplifier can bleed out ofthe chamber 41, the radius of the orifice 46 at least ranging fromslightly greater than zero to slightly less than one times the radius ofthe outlet orifice 2t) supplying vortical flow to the unit 40, to effectproper matching. The circumferential component of the fluid flowcirculates vortically in the vortex amplifying chamber 41 in one of twopossible rotational directions as determined by the direction ofrotation of the liquid supplied thereto, and issues as a defined fluidstream from the port 42, entering either passage 44 or 45, respectively,depending upon the direction of rotation of the flow in the chamber 41.Because the chamber 41 is a vortex amplifying chamber more of the totalenergy of the fluid supplied to the chamber 41 is in the tangentiallydirected form, and therefore the output from the port 42 will have ahigher energy content than would be the case if a vortex amplifyingchamber were not employed in the unit 40.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, the sidewalls of the passages 44and are preferably positioned relatively close to the port 42 so as toprovide boundary layer lock on of fluid entering either the passages 44or 45. The linear flow output from the unit 40 can be utilized toactuate conventional electrical readout devices or load devicesutilizing fluid for the operation or control thereof.

It should also be appreciated that in the event the power nozzle 36 ofthe unit 10, shown in FIGURE 1 of the accompanying drawing, is notissuing a fluid stream, the unit 10 will under most conditions operateas a readi0 out device for vortical flow supplied to the interactionchamber 21, the operation of the unit 10 being similar to that of theunit 4%) described hereinabove.

While I have described and illustrated several specific embodiments ofmy invention, it will be clear that variations of the details ofconstruction which are specifically illustrated and described may beresorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a fluid vortex system, a chamber for receiving and confiningvortical fluid flow, said chamber having an orifice formed centrallytherein with a diameter less than the diameter of said chamber, anopening formed in one side of said chamber, plural passagescommunicating with said opening for receiving flow therefrom, a pair ofsidewalls defining one wall of each of said plural passages andextending to a position adjacent said opening, said sidewalls beingpositioned such that boundary layer eflects are developed selectivelybetween fluid issuing from said opening and said sidewalls dependingupon the angular direction of said flow relative to said sidewalls andmeans communicating with said chamber for supplying rotating fluid flowtherein, the axis of rotation of the flow being in substantial alignmentwith the center of said orifice, certain of the passages receiving fluiddepending upon the sense of direction of rotation of vortical flow insaid chamber.

2. A vortex system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber issubstantially cylindrical.

3. In a fluid vortex system, a cylindrical chamber for partiallyconfining fluid flow, said chamber having an axis of symmetry and anorifice located on said axis of symmetry, the diameter of said chamberbeing greater than the diameter of the orifice, plural passagescommunicating with said chamber for receiving fluid flow therefrom, apair of sidewalls defining one wall of each of said plural passages andextending to a position adjacent said opening, said sidewalls beingpositioned such that boundary layer effects are developed selectivelybetween fluid i-ssu-. ing from said opening and said sidewalls dependingupon the angular direction of said flow relative to said sidewalls,means communicating with said chamber for generating a fluid vortexhaving the axis of rotation thereof substantially coincident with theaxis of symmetry of said chamber, said means governing the directionalsense of vortex rotation, certain of the passages receiving fluid flowdepending upon the sense of direction of vortex rotation.

4. A fluid vortex system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the radius ofthe orifice is such that at least a portion of the axial component ofvortex flow can egress from the orifice.

5. In a fluid vortex system, means for generating a rotating column offluid, a vortex amplifier for receiving and converting the rotatingcolumn of fluid to velocity amplified vortical flow, means for issuing asubstantially linear fluid stream into said chamber transversely of therotational axis of the vortical flow so that fluid interaction betweenthe fluid stream and the velocity amplified vortical flow can occur, andplural passages located down stream of said chamber for receiving fluidresulting from interaction in said vortex amplifier.

6. A fluid amplifier system comprising a fluid interaction chamber, anozzle for issuing a defined fluid stream into one end of saidinteraction chamber, a vortex amplifier chamber at least partiallyformed in said interaction chamber for velocity amplifying rotating flowsupplied thereto, the velocity amplified flow interacting with the fluidstream to deflect the stream in directions dependent upon the sense ofdirection of velocity amplified flow rotation, plural passages locateddownstream of said interaction chamber for receiving fluid flowresulting from the interaction in said interaction chamber.

7. In a fluid vortex system, means for creating and issuing a rotatingcolumn of fluid, an interaction chamber coupled to said means forreceiving the rotating column of fluid therefrom, means for issuing adefined, substantially linear fluid stream into said interaction chambertoward and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of the rotating fluid column, and plural passages locateddownstream of said interaction chamber for receiving the flow resultingfrom flow interaction between the defined fluid stream and the rotatingfluid.

8. A fluid vortex system comprising a first vortex amplifying chamberfor imparting rotary motion to fluid flowing therein, said chamber beingof relatively large radius and having an egress orifice centrallylocated therein of relatively small radius so that fluid issuing fromthe orifice is velocity amplified, at least a partial second vortexamplitying chamber coupled to said orifice for receiving and velocityamplifying the vertical flow from said first vortex chamber, pluralpassages communicating with said second vortex amplifying chamber forreceiving fluid therefrom, and means for supplying a defined,substantially linear stream of fluid into said second vortex amplifyingchamber in interacting relationship with the vertical flow, certain ofsaid plural passages receiving fluid resulting from the interactionbetween the flows as determined by the sense of direction of rotation ofthe vortical flow.

9. In combination, a first fluid amplifier for velocity amplifying fluidflow therein and having a first orifice from which the fluid flow issuesvertically, and a second fluid amplifier including an interactionchamber, said interaction chamber being coupled to said first orifice toreceive vortical flow therefrom and means for issuing a defined,substantially linear fluid stream into said interaction chamber, saidinteraction chamber having a second orifice formed therein insubstantial alignment with the rst orifice formed in said first fluidamplifier, the radius of said first orifice being larger than the radiusof said second orifice so that vortical fluid supplied to saidinter-action chamber is velocity amplified, the vertical fluid in saidinteraction chamber interacting with the linear fluid stream so as toeffect displacement thereof in said interaction chamber.

16. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said interactionchamber includes a flow splitter for separating fluid streams issuingfrom said interaction chamber,

12 said splitter having an arcuate end forming a Wall for limitingradial movement of vortices created in said interaction chamber.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 1%, wherein said arcuate end hasa radius of curvature, said second orifice being substantially alignedwith the center of the radius of curvature.

1?. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second orificeis formed in said interaction chamber substantially at the center of theradius or curvature having a radius smaller than the radius ofcurvature.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein the center of theradius of curvature of said arcuate end is substantially coincident withthe geometrical center of said first orifice formed in said firstamplifier.

1 A pure fluid amplifier system comprising a first vortex chamber havinga cylindrical sidewall and an axial egress orifice, a second vortexchamber having a cylindrical sidewall and an axial egress orifice, meansfor conveying rotating l'luid from said first-mentioned egress orificeto said second vortex chamber, said first-mentioned egress orificehaving a diameter less than the diameter of said first-mentionedcylindrical sidewall, and said secondmentioned egress orifice having adiameter less than the diameters of both said cylindrical sidewalls.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said second-mentionedcylindrical sidewall has a smaller diameter than said first-mentionedcylindrical sidewall.

References Cited hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,658,797 2/1928Charette et al 23092 3,075,227 1/1963 Bowles 15-346 OTHER REFERENCESSymposium on Fluid Jet Control Devices, A.S.M.E., November 1962, pages8390, Fig. 1. (Copy in Scientific Library and Group 360.)

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GETGE'R, Examiner.

1. IN A FLUID VORTEX SYSTEM, A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING AND CONFININGVORTICAL FLUID FLOW, SAID CHAMBER HAVING AN ORIFICE FORMED CENTRALLYTHEREIN WITH A DIAMETER LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID CHAMBER, ANOPENING FORMED IN ONE SIDE OF SAID CHAMBER, PLURAL PASSAGESCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID OPENING FOR RECEIVING FLOW THEREFROM, A PAIR OFSIDEWALLS DEFINING ONE WALL OF EACH OF SAID PLURAL PASSAGES ANDEXTENDING TO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID OPENING, SAID SIDEWALLS BEINGPOSITIONED SUCH THAT BOUNDARY LAYER EFFECTS ARE DEVELOPED SELECTIVELYBETWEEN FLUID ISSUING FROM SAID OPENING AND SAID SIDEWALLS DEPENDINGUPON THE ANGULAR DIRECTION OF SAID FLOW RELATIVE TO SAID SIDEWALLS ANDMEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER FOR SUPPLYING ROTATING FLUID FLOWTHEREIN, THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE FLOW BEING IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENTWITH THE CENTER OF SAID ORIFICE, CERTAIN OF THE PASSAGES RECEIVING FLUIDDEPENDING UPON THE SENSES OF DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF VERTICAL FLOW INSAID CHAMBER.